If you love the taste of cooked carrots but don't want to use the stove, learn how to cook them in the microwave. Cooking with the microwave is quick and easy and the carrots will keep all their sweetness intact. You can choose from numerous recipes, depending on your tastes. You can try your hand at the basic recipe first and then try making glazed carrots or sweet and sour spiced ones.
Ingrediants
Boiled Carrots
- 450 g of carrots
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of water
Glazed Carrots
- 450 g of carrots
- 3 tablespoons (45 g) of butter
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) of orange zest
- 1 tablespoon (15) of brown sugar
Sweet and Sour Spiced Carrots
- 700 g of carrots
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) of brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon of cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon of chilli
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) of sea salt
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of white wine vinegar
- 2 shallots
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Boiled Carrots
Step 1. Wash and slice 450g of carrots
You can cut them into sticks or thin slices. Wash them whole under cold running water, then pat them with kitchen paper to dry them before peeling them with the vegetable peeler to remove the harder outer layer. Remove the two ends with the knife and finally cut them into sticks or thin washers.
For convenience, you can buy baby carrots already peeled. Generally on the package it is indicated that they have already been washed, but it is still better to rinse and dry them. You can cook them whole or cut them into 2-3 parts
Step 2. Take a microwave-safe container, put the carrots in it, then add two tablespoons of water
Choose a dish (preferably glass or ceramic) that offers ample space for carrots.
- Do not use a metal container in the microwave.
- If you have to use a plastic container, make sure it is suitable for microwaving.
Step 3. Cover the dish with its lid or cling film
Do not tilt the lid and do not prick the film to let the steam escape. The water must remain trapped inside the container to boil the carrots.
The foil may melt if it touches the carrots, so transfer them to a larger bowl if necessary
Step 4. Cook the carrots on full power for 3 1/2 minutes
Wear oven mitts when it's time to take the dish out of the oven, as it will be hot. Remove the lid or foil carefully, keeping your arms and face away from the cloud of steam.
This cooking time is suitable for a microwave with a power of 1000 watts. If your oven has a higher power, reduce it to 3 minutes, while if it is lower, cook the carrots for 4 minutes
Step 5. Stir the carrots, cover them again and cook until tender
After mixing them and covering the dish again, put them back in the oven and continue to cook them at maximum power. After 2 minutes take out the pan again and check if the carrots have reached the right consistency. Stick them with a fork: if they offer only minimal resistance, it means that they are cooked. If they're still not ready, put them back in the microwave for another minute and then check again. Continue like this until they are cooked to perfection.
- If you have cut the carrots into thin slices, it is likely that they will be ready after 6-9 minutes.
- If you have cut them into sticks it may take 5-7 minutes.
- Whole baby carrots will cook in 7-9 minutes.
Step 6. Serve them hot
You can eat them as they are or season them with salt and pepper to taste. They are also excellent with the addition of a few flakes of butter.
Boiled carrots can be served alongside meat or fish as a side dish. For example, try combining them with chicken breast or fish, grilled or grilled, for a tasty and light meal
Method 2 of 3: Glazed Carrots
Step 1. Cut 450g carrots into thin slices
Wash them under cold running water, dry them and then peel them with the vegetable peeler before slicing them with a sharp knife. If you prefer, you can cut them into sticks instead of slices.
For convenience, you can buy baby carrots already washed and peeled
Step 2. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large bowl
Microwave the butter on high for 30 seconds, then continue at 15-second intervals until it has melted completely. Don't lose sight of it as it heats up as it tends to burn easily.
Choose an ovenproof dish (preferably glass or ceramic or in any case of a material suitable for the microwave oven) that offers ample space for carrots
Step 3. Add a teaspoon of orange zest and a tablespoon of brown sugar
If possible, grate the orange zest with a grater designed specifically for citrus fruits and be careful not to nick the white part under the orange, as it is bitter. Pour the grated zest into the pan with the butter, add the sugar and then stir to help it melt.
You can use honey or maple syrup instead of brown sugar if you wish
Step 4. Add the carrots as well and mix to season them
Use tongs or a spoon to evenly distribute the toppings.
The condiment based on butter, sugar and orange zest will adhere better to carrots if, after washing them, you have dabbed them with kitchen paper to absorb excess water
Step 5. Cover the dish with its lid or foil and cook the carrots on high for 5-8 minutes
Do not tilt the lid and do not prick the film to let the steam escape. After 3 and a half minutes, mix the carrots and check if they are cooked. If they are still hard, continue cooking them at 90-second intervals until you can easily skewer them with a fork.
- Use oven mitts and be careful not to burn yourself with the steam when handling the pan and opening it to stir and check the carrots.
- Cooking times may vary according to the power of the oven. This recipe assumes it has a power of 1000 watts.
Step 6. Plate the carrots and serve them hot
If you wish, you can add a sprinkle of orange zest as a decoration. Glazed carrots are a tasty side dish that you can pair with a pork roast, for example, but they are also delicious on their own.
Method 3 of 3: Sweet and Sour Spiced Carrots
Step 1. Cut the carrots into thin slices
Wash and peel them with a vegetable peeler before slicing them with a sharp knife. For convenience you can buy baby carrots already washed and peeled.
If the carrots are very tapered, cut the thickest part in half. This way you will get more uniform size washers
Step 2. Heat the coconut oil along with the brown sugar and spices
Pour the ingredients into a large, microwave-safe dish. Stir and heat them in the oven until the sugar has melted (30 seconds should be enough). Specifically, you will need:
- 2 tablespoons of good quality coconut oil.
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
- ½ teaspoon of cumin powder.
- ¼ teaspoon of chilli.
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt.
Step 3. Add the carrots and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
Add the vinegar first, mix to blend it with the other seasonings, and then pour the carrots into the pan. Mix it again carefully.
Step 4. Cover the dish with a perforated sheet of cling film
Apply the cling film and then use the tip of a knife or skewer to make several small holes that will allow the steam to escape during cooking. Thanks to these ventilation holes the carrots will stay crunchy instead of becoming soggy.
Alternatively, you can use a specific lid for the microwave oven with ventilation holes, thanks to which the steam escapes easily
Step 5. Cook the carrots at 5 minute intervals for a total of 15 minutes
Start by cooking them for 5 minutes on maximum power, then take the dish out of the oven, uncover and mix quickly. Replace the lid or foil and repeat the steps 2 more times. If after 15 minutes you can easily skewer the carrots with a fork and most of the liquid has been absorbed, they are ready.
- If they're still not perfect, keep cooking them at 2-minute intervals, stirring and checking each time until they're ready.
- Be cautious when uncovering the pan to stir the carrots, otherwise you could burn yourself with the hot steam.
Step 6. Slice two shallots to complete the dish
Add most of it to the pan with the carrots and save the remaining slices to distribute on the plates when ready, for decoration. Enjoy your meal.
